Side discharge belt conveyor assembly

ABSTRACT

A side discharge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles such as grapefruit sections employs three flat parallel conveyor belts all moving in the same direction, and having lateral spaces between adjacent side edges. Diverter blades are pivotally supported in close proximity to the upper surfaces of the belts in order to sweep the fragile articles laterally off all the side edges of the belts at predetermined locations, thereby minimizing the extent of required lateral travel of the fragile articles. Two oppositely-movable diverter blades above each side belt are connected to one diverter blade above a side portion of the wide center belt for simultaneous movement in unison between inoperative longitudinal positions and operative slanted positions. A deflector and additional pivoted blades are provided for diverting broken grapefruit sections from the central portion of the wide center belt to transverse discharge chutes at predetermined locations.

Unite States ]March 20, 1973 SIDE DISCHARGE BELT CONVEYOR ASSEMBLYInventors: Franklin K. Holbrook, Whittier;

Primary ExaminerEdward A. Sroka AtzorneyLyon & Lyon Donn J. Rickard,Glendora, both of [57] ABSTRACT Calif. A side discharge belt conveyorassembly for fragile ar- [73] Assignee: Brown International Corporationticles such as grapefruit sect1ons employs three flat parallel conveyorbelts all movmg 1n the same Cov1na,Ca11f. I

dlrecnon, and having lateral spaces between ad acent [22] Filed: Oct.23, 1970 side edges. Diverter blades are pivotally supported in closeproximity to the upper surfaces of the belts in [2]] Appl' 83366 orderto sweep the fragile articles laterally off all the side edges of thebelts at predetermined locations, [52] US. Cl ..l98/66, 198/188 therebyminimizing the extent of required lateral [51] Int. Cl. ..B65g /00, B65g47/26 travel of the fragile articles. Two oppositely-movable Field ofSearch 1 31 38 diverter blades above each side belt are connected to onediverter blade above a side portion of the wide [56] References Citedcenter belt for simultaneous movement in unison between inoperativelongitudinal positions and opera- UNITED STATES PATENTS tive slantedpositions. A deflector and additional 1,804,154 5/1931 Cowley ..l98/38pivoted bladeS are Provided for diverting broken 1,923,753 8/1933Scofield ...l98/31 AC grapefruit sections from the central portion ofthe 856,993 6/1907 Teague ..l98/l88 wide center belt to transversedischarge chutes at 3,24 l Horton X predetermined locations 2,642,9806/1953 Soucek ..l98/66 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures /3 0 ad 7 291; 25fia, g] M l A i I 4::- A b Z5 Z5 56 9 1 A'-& 254 ad 25 V5 Z 1514 4L 1 111 11 1111 11 1 l 276 A E aga K Z7 @1 W 7 '7 1 255 M m (on (fin a e a?fi a a a 1254 $3 5; A Q I I 1 I I I I HI 4 ii i H U T ii if ll a i 8 Z6426C 2a: I G3 K919 mrol 101 mm? 29 21 4 ,34 w zed EH t 1 i a g Til M 24524 w f 4 be PATEYHEDHARZOISYS 1721 2331 SHEET 3 BF 3 ATf/VGVE SIDEDISCHARGE BELT CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY This invention relates to sidedischarge belt conveyor apparatus for handling fragile articles such asgrapefruit sections. It is highly desirable to minimize scuffing andabrasion of such fragile articles in course of delivery to containerfilling apparatus. Therefore, it is an important object of our inventionto provide conveyor apparatus for distributing such fragile articles tocontainer filling stations with a minimum amount of damage.

At one time in commercial operations grapefruit sections were manuallyremoved from the fruit and manually placed in containers, but thismanual process has been found to be time-consuming and expensive.Apparatus for sectionizing grapefruit and other citrus fruits is shownin the copending application of Bushman et al. Ser. No. 873,850, filedNov. 4, 1969 and entitled Means for Sectionizing Citrus Fruit now U.S.Pat. No. 3,643,716 granted Feb. 22, 1972. The apparatus of the presentinvention is intended to receive spherical wedge grapefruit sections, aswell as broken sections, and to deliver them to a plurality of stationsfor automatic can filling operation, all with a minimum requirement ofmanual handling, and with minimum damage.

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of flat parallel conveyorbelts all moving in the same direction cooperate with selectivelyoperable diverter blades for sweeping grapefruit sections off side edgesof the belts at predetermined locations. The diverter blades are movablefrom a longitudinal inoperative position to a slanted operativeposition, and each is connected for operation in unison with otherdiverter blades. The container filling mechanisms which are fed by theside discharge belt conveyor assembly operate on demand, without anyrequirement of the order in which containers are filled at the variousstations. Accordingly, the discharge chutes which receive the grapefruitsections from the side edges of the conveyor belts are also fed ondemand. Thus, there is no predetermined order of filling of thedischarge chutes, as the device continues in operation. The diverterblades swing between fully retracted inoperative position to fullyslanted operative position, without stopping at any intermediateposition.

Other objects and advantages hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view partly broken away and certain partsbeing omitted for clarity of illustration, showing a preferredembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view partly broken away, similar to FIG. 1 but showingmechanism for moving the diverter blades.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on thelines 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken substantially on thelines 44 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the lines 5-5 asshown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, three parallel endless belts 10, 11 and 12are trained over coaxial pulleys 13, 14, 15 and 16, 17, 18. A drivesprocket 19 serves to turn the pulleys to cause the belts 10, 11 and 12to move in the same direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper will appearreach of each belt is supported in a flat horizontal position by meansof longitudinally extending stationary guide bars 21, each having asmooth upper surface for sliding contact with one of the belts. Theguide bars 21 are each carried on a stationary frame 22. The belts arelaterally spaced, so that fragile articles such as grapefruit sectionscan be discharged laterally over the side edges of the belts and intothe spaces between the belts. Discharge collector chutes 23 and 24extend transversely of the length of the belts and project between theupper and lower reaches thereof. Each chute 23 projects under the upperreach of the side belt 10 and under the space between the belts 10 and11. Similarly, each of the chutes 24 projects under the upper reach ofthe side belt 12 and under the space between the belt 12 and the belt11. Each of the chutes 23 and 24 leads to container filler apparatus,not shown. Such apparatus is shown in a copending application of Donn.I. Rickard Ser. No. 83,390 and Donn J. Rickard et al. Ser. No. 83,389,both filed of even date herewith.

In the general plan of operation, fragile articles such as grapefruitsections A" are deposited by means not shown on each of the belts l0, l1and 12 at the entry end near the pulleys 13, 14 and 15. These grapefruitsections are carried along the upper surface of the belts until theyreach a diverter blade in slanted position which causes them to be movedlaterally off the side edge of the belt and into one of the dischargechutes. Also, broken grapefruit sections B are deposited on the centralportion of the inlet end of the center belt 11, and these brokensections travel on the upper surface of the moving belt 11 until theystrike a central deflector which moves them to one side or the other ofthe moving belt 11. In this way the broken sections bypass most of thedischarge chutes 23 and 24 and are deposited only in the discharge chuteor chutes near the far end of the belt conveyors nearest the pulleys 16,17 and 18.

Several longitudinal series of movable diverter blades are mounted aboveand in close proximity to the upper surfaces of the moving belts 10, 11and 12. The diverter blades 25 in the first series are positionedcentrally above the conveyor belt 10, the diverter blades 26 in thesecond series centrally above the conveyor belt 12, the third series ofdiverter blades 27 along one side portion of the center belt 11, and thefourth series of diverter blades 28 along the other side portion of thecenter belt 11. The diverter blades 27 and 28 above the center belt 11are mounted in a longitudinal series of adjacent pairs. The diverterblades 25 above the belt 10 and the diverter blades 26 above the belt 12are each mounted in pairs, one moving clockwise and the othercounterclockwise. Each diverter blade is mounted to swing about avertical axis from an inoperative longitudinal position in which blades25a and 25b are shown, to an angled operative position in which blades25c and 25d are shown. Side rail sections 29 are mounted on thestationary frame parts along the side edges of the belts between thelocations of the discharge chutes 23 and 24. Since the pairs of diverterblades in the first series over the belt 10 and the second series overthe belt 12 are substantially duplicates, a detailed description of onepair will suffice. Thus, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the diverterblades 26a and 26b each comprises a thin rectangular metal plate eachhaving a support block 31, 32 fixed in one upper corner thereof. Avertical pivot pin 33 is fixed to the block 31 and supports the diverterblade 26b. Similarly, a vertical pivot pin 34 is fixedto the pivot block32 and supports the diverter blade 26a. The stationary longitudinalframe member 35 carries bearing housings 36 which pivotally support eachof the pivot pins 33 and 34. The upper end of the pivot pin 33 projectsabove the bearing housing 36 and is fixed to crank arm 37 operated bylink 38 through pin 39. Similarly, the pivot pin 34 projects above itsbearing housing 36 and is fixed to crank arm 40 operated by link 41through pin 42.

The longitudinal members 35, 43, 44 and 45 of the stationary frame 22are supported on spaced transverse members 46 and 47, and these in turnare supported on posts 48 which project through the spaces between theelts and 11 and between the belts 11 and 12.

The links 38 and 41 are operated by a single pin 51 carried on the crankarm 52 fixed to the upper end of the pivot pin 53. This pivot pin 53 issupported in the stationary upright housing 54 on the longitudinal framemember 43, and the lower end of this pin 53 is fixed to the diverterblade 28a by means of block 55. Means are provided for swinging thediverter blades 26a, 26b and 28a in unison from the same power source,and as shown in the drawings, this means includes the double actingpower cylinder assembly 57 having piston rod 58 pivotally connected at59 to crank arm 60. This crank arm 60 is fixed to the pivot pin 53. Anadjustable stop 61 is provided for limiting the outward stroke of thepiston rod 58. From this description it will be understood that thepower cylinder assembly 57 operates the crank arm 60 to swing thevertical pivot pin 53 and the diverter blade 28a which is attached toit. This power cylinder assembly 57 also simultaneously swings thediverter blades 26a and 26b by means of the links 38 and 41 and pivotpins 34 and 33, respectively. The diverter blades 26a, 26b and 28asimultaneously move between the angled discharge position shown in thedrawings to an inoperative longitudinal position similar to thatoccupied by diverter blades 25a, 25b and 27a. It will be observed thatgrapefruit sections A" diverted and swept off the side edges of thebelts 11 and 12 by blades 28a, 26a and 26b are all received by the samedischarge chute 24a. Similarly, the diverter blades 27b, 25d and 25c alldischarge into the same chute 23b. In a similar manner, the powercylinder assembly 65 simultaneously operates diverter blades 25a, 25band 27a to divert grapefruit sections A" into the transverse chute 23a.Similarly, diverter blades 25c, 25d and 27b are operated simultaneouslyto divert grapefruit sections into the chute 23b, and diverter blades26c, 26d and 28b are operated simultaneously to divert grapefruitsections into the discharge chute 24b. The diverter In operation,grapefruit sections A of spherical wedge shape are deposited on theupper surfaces of the left-hand ends of the belts 10, 11 and 12, asviewed in FIG. 1. Broken grapefruit sections B are placed near thecentral portion of the wide belt 11, near the lefthand end. With thediverter blades and deflector 65 positioned as shown in the drawings,grapefruit sections A" are discharged laterally from both side edges ofthe belt 10 into the transverse discharge chute 23b. Similarly,grapefruit sections on the edge portion of the wide belt 11 nearest thebelt 10 are swept laterally by the diverter blade 27b into the samedischarge chute 23b. It is to be noted that the maximum lateral travelrequired of any grapefruit section is one-half the width of the narrowbelt 10 or 12. This minimizes scuffing and frictional contact with thegrapefruit sections and thereby minimizes damage to them. Grapefruitsections are also discharged laterally off side edges of the belt intochute 24a by diverter blades 28a, 26a and 26b. Diverter blades 28a, 26eand 26f are in slanted position to divert grapefruit sections into thedischarge chute 24e, as soon as grapefruit sections arrive on the belts1 1 and 12, following return of the diverter blades 28a, 26a and 26b toinoperative longitudinal position. Similarly, diverter blades 25e,25fand 27f are in position to divert grapefruit sections into thedischarge chute 23f as soon as all diverter blades upstream are moved toinoperative position so that grapefruit sections may reach the laststation on the machine. Means, not shown, are pro vided for energizingthe power cylinder assemblies to swing the diverter blades in accordancewith demand of the filling apparatus fed by the particular dischargechute. This occurs, not in any predetermined sequence, but on demand asfruit is needed at any one of the filling stations.

With the pivoted blades in the position shown in the drawings, brokengrapefruit sections B are caused to be swept laterally by pivoted blades73 and 27f for lateral discharge into the chute 23f, and by pivotedblades 74 and 28f for lateral discharge into the chute 24f.

Having fully described out invention, it is to beunderstood that we arenot to be limited to the details herein set forth but that our inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a side discharge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles suchas grapefruit sections, the combination of: parallel laterally spacedbelts, each of the belts having upper reach portions supported in flathorizontal position, means for driving said belts in the same direction,diverter blades pivotally supported in close proximity to said upperreaches of said belts, certain of said diverter blades being mounted inpairs above the center of one of the belts, others of said diverterblades being mounted above an adjacent belt, each of said blades beingmovable from an inoperative longitudinal position to an operativeslanted position to sweep articles laterally off a side edge of one ofthe belts at a predetermined location, and means interconnecting thediverter blades in each pair above the first said belt with one of theblades above said adjacent belt for movement in unison between operativeand inoperative positions.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which a stationary supportstructure is positioned above said belts, said diverter blades beingpivotally mounted on said support structure, and selectively operablepower means on said support structure for moving said diverter blades.

3. In a side discharge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles suchas grapefruit sections, the combination of: a center belt positionedbetween and spaced laterally from two side belts, the center belt beingwider than the side belts and parallel thereto, each of the belts havingupper reach portions supported in flat horizontal position, means fordriving all three belts in the same direction, diverter blades pivotallysupported in close proximity to said upper reaches of said belts,certain of said diverter blades being mounted in pairs above the centerof said side belts, respectively, others of said diverter blades beingmounted in laterally spaced pairs above said center belt, each of saidblades being movable from an inoperative longitudinal position to anoperative slanted position to sweep articles laterally off a side edgeof one of said belts at a predetermined location, and meansinterconnecting the diverter blades in each pair above the side beltswith one of the laterally spaced diverter blades above the center beltfor movement in unison between operative and inoperative positions.

4. In a side discharge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles suchas grapefruit sections, the combination of: a center belt positionedbetween and spaced laterally from two side belts, the center belt beingwider than the side belts and parallel thereto, each of the belts havingupper reach portions supported in flat horizontal position, means fordriving all three belts in the same direction, diverter blades pivotallysupported in close proximity to said upper reaches of said belts andeach being movable from an inoperative longitudinal position to anoperative slanted position to sweep articles laterally off a side edgeof one of said belts at a predetermined location, said diverter bladesincluding a first series mounted above the center of one of the sidebelts, and a second series mounted above the center of the other of theside belts, the diverter blades including a third seriesmounted aboveone side portion of the center belt and a fourth series mounted abovethe other side portion of the center belt, and means interconnectingeach diverter blade above the side belts with a diverter blade above anadjacent side portion of the center belt for movement in unison betweenoperative and inoperative positions.

5. In a side discharge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles suchas grapefruit sections, the combination of: a conveyor belt having anupper reach supported in flat horizontal position and having parallelside edges, means for driving said belt, a longitudinal series ofadjacent pairs of diverter blades positioned in close proximity to saidupper reach of the conveyor belt, means above said upper reach forpivotally supporting each pair of said diverter blades so that eachblade is movable from an inoperative longitudinal position to anoperative slanted position to sweep articles laterally off a side edgeof the conveyor belt, and separate means for moving each of saiddiverter blades between its operative and inoperative positions,

whereby articles may be selectively diverted over either one or 0th sideedges of the belt at a single predetermined location along the conveyorbelt or allowed to pass to the next pair of diverter blades in theseries.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which a stationary supportstructure is positioned above said conveyor belt, said diverter bladesbeing pivotally mounted on said support structure, and selectivelyoperable power means on said support structure for moving said diverterblades.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which each diverter bladesweeps less than one-half of the width of the conveyor belt.

1. In a side discharge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles suchas grapefruit sections, the combination of: parallel laterally spacedbelts, each of the belts having upper reach portions supported in flathorizontal position, means for driving said belts in the same direction,diverter blades pivotally supported in close proximity to said upperreaches of said belts, certain of said diverter blades being mounted inpairs above the center of one of the belts, others of said diverterblades being mounted above an adjacent belt, each of said blades beingmovable from an inoperative longitudinal position to an operativeslanted position to sweep articles laterally off a side edge of one ofthe belts at a predetermined location, and means interconnecting thediverter blades in each pair above the first said belt with one of theblades above said adjacent belt for movement in unison between operativeand inoperative positions.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 inwhich a stationary support structure is positioned above said belts,said diverter blades being pivotally mounted on said support structure,and selectively operable power means on said support structure formoving said diverter blades.
 3. In a side discharge belt conveyorassembly for fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, thecombination of: a center belt positioned between and spaced laterallyfrom two side belts, the center belt being wider than the Side belts andparallel thereto, each of the belts having upper reach portionssupported in flat horizontal position, means for driving all three beltsin the same direction, diverter blades pivotally supported in closeproximity to said upper reaches of said belts, certain of said diverterblades being mounted in pairs above the center of said side belts,respectively, others of said diverter blades being mounted in laterallyspaced pairs above said center belt, each of said blades being movablefrom an inoperative longitudinal position to an operative slantedposition to sweep articles laterally off a side edge of one of saidbelts at a predetermined location, and means interconnecting thediverter blades in each pair above the side belts with one of thelaterally spaced diverter blades above the center belt for movement inunison between operative and inoperative positions.
 4. In a sidedischarge belt conveyor assembly for fragile articles such as grapefruitsections, the combination of: a center belt positioned between andspaced laterally from two side belts, the center belt being wider thanthe side belts and parallel thereto, each of the belts having upperreach portions supported in flat horizontal position, means for drivingall three belts in the same direction, diverter blades pivotallysupported in close proximity to said upper reaches of said belts andeach being movable from an inoperative longitudinal position to anoperative slanted position to sweep articles laterally off a side edgeof one of said belts at a predetermined location, said diverter bladesincluding a first series mounted above the center of one of the sidebelts, and a second series mounted above the center of the other of theside belts, the diverter blades including a third series mounted aboveone side portion of the center belt and a fourth series mounted abovethe other side portion of the center belt, and means interconnectingeach diverter blade above the side belts with a diverter blade above anadjacent side portion of the center belt for movement in unison betweenoperative and inoperative positions.
 5. In a side discharge beltconveyor assembly for fragile articles such as grapefruit sections, thecombination of: a conveyor belt having an upper reach supported in flathorizontal position and having parallel side edges, means for drivingsaid belt, a longitudinal series of adjacent pairs of diverter bladespositioned in close proximity to said upper reach of the conveyor belt,means above said upper reach for pivotally supporting each pair of saiddiverter blades so that each blade is movable from an inoperativelongitudinal position to an operative slanted position to sweep articleslaterally off a side edge of the conveyor belt, and separate means formoving each of said diverter blades between its operative andinoperative positions, whereby articles may be selectively diverted overeither one or both side edges of the belt at a single predeterminedlocation along the conveyor belt or allowed to pass to the next pair ofdiverter blades in the series.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5in which a stationary support structure is positioned above saidconveyor belt, said diverter blades being pivotally mounted on saidsupport structure, and selectively operable power means on said supportstructure for moving said diverter blades.
 7. The combination set forthin claim 5 in which each diverter blade sweeps less than one-half of thewidth of the conveyor belt.